Since the first call to prayer in 1775, when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation, the call to prayer has continued through our history. In all, there have been 137 national calls to prayer, humiliation, fasting and thanksgiving by United States presidents.
In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual, National Day of Prayer. In 1988, the law was amended and signed by President Reagan, officially designating the day as the first Thursday of May, and each year the President signs a proclamation, inviting all Americans to take part. Typically, all 50 state governors issue similar proclamations.
National Day of Prayer Task Force Chairman Shirley Dobson, wife of Family Talk Founder Dr. James Dobson, said “Even though most national, state, and local leaders have again acknowledged a National Day of Prayer, there is still a disturbing trend of trying to remove God and prayer from all aspects of American public life.” Dobson also stated. “President Ronald Reagan once said, ‘If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.’ Whether it involves the Ten Commandments or our Pledge of Allegiance, there is a very small number of people leading this movement to expel the Creator of the universe from society altogether. The National Day of Prayer provides an opportunity for the community of faith to take advantage of our freedom to worship and keep the Lord in the public arena. It’s imperative that we take advantage of this government-proclaimed day of observance by expressing our faith through prayer in the public square. By doing so, we can help to ensure that subsequent generations will enjoy the same liberty.”
On May 1st, President Obama signed this year’s Presidential Proclamation officially recognizing Thursday, May 3rd, 2012, as the 61st Annual National Day of Prayer. In his proclamation, he calls upon individual “to pray for guidance, grace, and protection for our great Nation as we address the challenges of our time.”
According to USA Today, the organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State have also issued their annual protest of this event, saying sanctioned prayer furthers a “far-right religious political agenda.” Executive director Rev. Barry W. Lynn commented that “Americans don’t need to be told when or whether to pray.”
For more information, or to find a National Day of Prayer event in your community, visit www.NationalDayofPrayer.org.
